Red-Billed Tropicbird Fine Art Print
The Taylor White Collection's 18th Century Watercolour Painting of The Red-Billed Tropicbird
Our Red-Billed Tropicbird fine art print comes from the original collection of Taylor White F.R.S. (1701-1772). In the mid-18th Century, White commissioned the celebrated wildlife painter, Charles Collins (c.1680 - 1744) to paint a number of specimens for his collection. The watercolour painting of the Red-Billed Tropicbird was one of these masterpieces, which emerged from the collaboration between White and Collins.
The original watercolour of the Red-Billed Tropicbird is extremely finely painted, with incredible detail, allowing you to see the Red-Billed Tropicbird's plumage and features in stunning clarity. This depth of colour and detail has been captured brilliantly through the digitalisation process and is replicated for you on this delightful fine art print, which is now available for your home or office décor, or to buy as a thoughtful gift for your friends and family.
Taylor White, a barrister by profession and landowner on the Nottinghamshire / Yorkshire border, was a keen naturalist and collector. He commissioned over 900 paintings of birds, mammals, reptiles and fish from the finest painters of his day. He was a governor and the founding Treasurer of The Foundling Hospital in London, as well as being a Fellow of The Royal Society. He was extremely well-connected in Society, which enabled him to create such a world-class collections of specimen and thus paintings. White's father in-law was Major-General John Armstrong, who as Surveyor-General of the Ordnance, Chief Royal Engineer and Quartermaster-General to the Forces, has his offices in The Tower of London. Consequently, Taylor White had access to the birds and beasts of The Royal Menagerie at the Tower. He also was able to borrow specimen from The British Museum. Some rarer and more exotic specimens were brought back from their great travels across the globe by his Royal Society friends, the naturalist Sir Joseph Banks, Bt. and the famous clockmaker, John Harrison.
Superb Fine Art Print on Museum-Quality Paper
We've meticulously replicated the original Red-Billed Tropicbird watercolour painting on 310gsm Hahnemühle German Etching art paper [HGE] or Enhanced Matte Art Paper [EMA] for the 6in x 8in print. These top-quality fine art papers are museum-quality with the HGE paper being acid and lignin-free, ensuring the best possible longevity and colour reproduction, whilst the EMA paper is a heavy-duty fine art paper. The Red-Billed Tropicbird's vibrant colours and intricate details come to life in this high-quality fine art print.
* Please note that the images of the Red-Billed Tropicbird Fine Art Print on our website are for illustrative purposes only. The actual print uses high-resolution images to ensure a crisp, clear, and visually stunning final print.
The Red-Billed Tropicbird
The Red-Billed Tropicbird (Scientific name: Phaeton aethereus) is a fascinating avian species known for its iconic red bill and mainly white plumage. These medium-sized birds, which are native to tropical oceans worldwide, spend most of their lives at sea, only returning to land for breeding purposes. Their diet consists primarily of fish and squid, which they capture by plunging into the water from heights of up to 40 meters.
The Red-Billed Tropicbirds typically breed once annually, laying a single egg in a cliff crevice or an inaccessible ledge, with both parents sharing the incubation and chick-rearing duties. It takes about 90 days for the chick to become fully independent. Interestingly, these Tropicbirds mature slowly, only developing their full plumage at 4-5 years old and beginning to breed around the same age. They are also known for their intricate aerial displays during courtship, which include the rare ability to fly backwards.
Despite being classified as a species of Least Concern, certain populations of the Red-Billed Tropicbird face threats from invasive species, habitat loss, human disturbance, and climate change. Efforts to understand and appreciate these magnificent creatures, as well as address the challenges they confront, are essential for their continued survival. The Red-Billed Tropicbird serves as a remarkable example of the diverse and vibrant life thriving in our planet's tropical regions.
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